WASHINGTON – In a continuing effort to improve the Whistleblower Protection Program, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen the program and is releasing an internal report detailing a recent top-to-bottom review of the program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3.75 million National Emergency Grant to provide training and support services to approximately 375 workers affected by the closure of Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital in Rome, Ga. The facility, a state-run mental health hospital for developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients, will be closing on Sept. 30.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3 million National Emergency Grant to create 230 temporary jobs to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of severe flooding along the Mississippi River in May and June.

"Floods dealt a severe blow this spring to many communities in Mississippi," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "I am pleased that the Labor Department can support cleanup efforts that will help lead to a sustained recovery for Mississippi's impacted communities."

WASHINGTON — On July 31, the U.S. Department of Labor marked the 10th anniversary of administering the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to eligible workers and their survivors who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. The department has administered Part B of the EEOICPA since the program's inception in 2001, and was charged with the implementation of Part E, created by an amendment to the EEOICPA, on Oct. 28, 2004.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has extended the public comment period for a proposed rule to revise the interpretation of "advice" as it pertains to the employer and labor relations consultant persuader reporting requirements of Section 203 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. All public comments now must be received on or before Sept. 21.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Richard Chavez:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 398,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 422,000. The 4-week moving average was 413,750, a decrease of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 422,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending July 16, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the prior week's revised rate of 3.0 percent.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today on Employee Benefits in the United States, a component of the annual National Compensation Survey:

Violations affected workers in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, North Dakota and Texas

Special Factor: Minnesota has indicated that approximately 1,750 of their reported initial claims are a result of state employees filing due to the state government shutdown.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 418,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 408,000. The 4-week moving average was 421,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 424,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline to submit nominations is Sept. 16.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today released a new online publication, "Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers." Available on the website of the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau at http://www.dol.gov/wb/trauma/, the guide explains the unique experiences and needs of women veterans, and provides organizational self-assessment tools to aid service providers, such as social workers and community service organizations, that assist this population.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $379,500 National Emergency Grant to provide training and employment services to about 200 workers affected by the closure of the Premier Bankcard call center in Spearfish, S.D. The company announced in May that it would be closing the center and permanently laying off its workers.

"This grant will help dislocated workers by equipping them with the skills necessary to obtain good, stable jobs in the area's high-growth industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $248,878 National Emergency Grant to provide training and re-employment services for about 60 workers affected by layoffs at Thompson/Center Arms in Rochester, N.H., which began in January and will continue through the end of the year.

"This grant will help these dislocated workers by equipping them with the skills necessary to obtain good, stable jobs in New Hampshire's high-growth industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Date of Action:  July 14, 2011

Type of Action:  Consent order and judgment

Name(s) of Defendant: SME Inc., d/b/a Allegra Print & Imaging and Sean Eagan, individually and as fiduciaries to the Allegra Print and Imaging 401(k) Plan and Trust and the Allegra Print and Imaging Health Plan

MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the Mirror Factory Inc., a custom mirror and glass company in Plymouth, Minn., and its co-owners, Jeff Hagstrom and Daniel Elofson, to restore $14,651.38 in employees’ pre-tax contributions plus lost interest to the company’s 401(k) plan. The case resulted from an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration into alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment that restores $16,047 to the participants in Craftsmen Custom Cabinets Inc.’s savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, the judgment issued by Judge Marvin Shoob requires that Barry Pugh and his wife, Cynthia Pugh, restore the funds and that none of the restored funds shall be allocated to the accounts of either of the defendants.  

$70,000 in prizes available for innovative use of department data

Special Factor: Minnesota has indicated that approximately 11,500 of their reported initial claims are a result of state employees filing due to the state government shutdown.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 405,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 427,000. The 4-week moving average was 423,250, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average of 427,000.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $15 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to support efforts to combat exploitative child labor in areas of sugarcane production in the Philippines.

Qualified organization(s) will implement technical assistance projects that aim to combat child labor by: